| kittern |
| (regular) |
| 03/07/2008 11:38 |
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Stripping varnish
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Has anyone used a heat gun and best quality scrapers to strip varnish? ... if so were there any drawbacks?
I've got a whole cockpit, including back end of the coach roof and companion way doors, also ribbed seats/locker covers ... all with who knows how many coats of varnish on them ... Nitromors and the like are so messy to use that I'd rather not and also I really want to do the job afloat if I can, using a gas (bottle) powered heat gun. I've found some clever ever so slightly curved scrapers which look as though they'll do the job without leaving score marks all over the place. Easiest way is to pay the yard and say get on with it but the price would be hellish!
What do you reckon ... any one tried heat guns?
| lw395 |
| (regular) |
| 03/07/2008 12:03 |
Re: Stripping varnish
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I use heat guns a lot, mostly the mains powered sort, have done various boats, lots of parquet floor at home etc etc.
Get a Harris Tungsten carbide scraper. This will deal with a lot of varnish cold. Also the black ANZA scrapers are quite good, can be sharpened with a file.
A dremel can be good for the awkward corners.
Not leaving score or scorch marks is mostly about taking care, but using sharp tools helps, as more force=less control.
| PCUK |
| (regular) |
| 03/07/2008 12:19 |
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Re: Stripping varnish
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Skarsten scrapers are some of the best. Basically a cabinet scraper on a stick!!! Can also be sharpened in the same way as a cabinet scraper.
| nct1 |
| (regular) |
| 03/07/2008 12:59 |
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Re: Stripping varnish
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If you overdo it with a heat gun the wood will burn which leaves aesthetic problems.
Random orbital sander works well for me.
| Tranona |
| (regular) |
| 03/07/2008 14:40 |
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Re: Stripping varnish
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Depends to an extent on the varnish. Hot air gun is OK, but in the open can be difficult to keep an even heat, and can lead to local burning of the underlying wood. On balance, having tried just about every method, prefer Nitromors. Let it go almost hard and then scrape off. Better for anything that is not flat, ie grooves and around trim as it penetrates. Variety of scrapers useful, some home made to do things like grooves. Skarstens are OK but my current favourite is a Sandvik with a replaceable 50mm double edged blade. Recognise them by their substantial orange handle.
| anteak |
| (regular) |
| 03/07/2008 17:12 |
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Re: Stripping varnish
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We use hot air guns all the time. You just have to be careful. Nitromors, or any other chemical, is never used.
| LittleShip |
| (regular) |
| 03/07/2008 20:08 |
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Re: Stripping varnish
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I have loads of brightwork on my boat................ trust me heat, stripper ect don't come near this
The Best by Far !!
Round the edges so that it wont mark the wood apply pressure and pull, it will even connect to a vacuum so there is no mess.
You could on the other hand struggle!
Tom
| kittern |
| (regular) |
| 04/07/2008 11:42 |
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Re: Stripping varnish
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Great idea! .... I might struggle to plug in the vacuum cleaner with the boat swinging round a mooring in the middle of Portsmouth harbour though. ...
| Georgio |
| (regular) |
| 04/07/2008 11:47 |
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Re: Stripping varnish
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Cheap B&Q generator and a vacuum cleaner from Ebay (I have an old one in the garage for just such jobs)
| Twister_Ken |
| (regular) |
| 04/07/2008 11:53 |
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Re: Stripping varnish
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"heap B&Q generator and a vacuum cleaner from Ebay (I have an old one in the garage for just such jobs) "
God, the noise!
| LakeSailor |
| (regular) |
| 04/07/2008 12:18 |
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Re: Stripping varnish
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I used a heat gun and old chisels to strip the inside on my Heron dinghy when I restored it. On half power I never got a scorch, but the drawback is that in corners and near frames etc, the heat blows back and doesn't half scorch your fingers.
I never got on with the "pull" type scraper and chemical stippers are a right mess. Quicker with heat.
| LittleShip |
| (regular) |
| 04/07/2008 19:03 |
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Re: Stripping varnish
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Quicker with heat.
Tut Tut ..... Not true Lakey.......... Scraper is much faster and as he has already said, "He may find it difficult on a swinging mooring" I presume by that he cant plug in.
Tom
| LakeSailor |
| (regular) |
| 04/07/2008 19:47 |
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Re: Stripping varnish
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tut, tut
I couldn't get on with the scraper at all. If it works for you that's the way to go.
Generator from a hire shop.
| bluedragon |
| (regular) |
| 06/07/2008 14:54 |
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Re: Stripping varnish
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Hot air gun every time. Even removes epoxy. I got one (B&D) with a built-in scraper and three heat settings. Couldn't be easier. Wouldn't be without it.